Andriy Shevchenko: "The youth national team of Ukraine has fulfilled all the tasks it had to do"

UAF President Andriy Shevchenko commented on the performance of the Ukrainian youth national team at Euro 2024 (U-19), where Dmytro Mykhailenko's team stopped in the semifinals and won a ticket to the 2025 U-20 World Cup in Chile.

"The guys had a very good tournament. They fulfilled all the tasks they had set for themselves, got out of the group and qualified for the World Cup. They played a very good match and won an important victory over Italy.

They played France on equal terms. It was a very tough match. The French are a powerful team, but we had our chances and lost minimally.

If we evaluate the entire tournament, my assessment is positive, which applies to the coach and the entire team. They will be preparing for the World Cup. They have a very strong motivation, a good team and they represented Ukraine with dignity.

We saw how emotionally the guys took the defeat in the semifinals. But this is normal for the beginning of a career. You have to go through it. I like that they have a team. I saw even in the game with France that they are for each other. Even when it was difficult, when the opponents controlled the game, they were united and supported each other.

I congratulated the team and wished them to get together in a year, prepare well and play at the World Cup. To go towards their goals.

I think that each of these guys has a chance to prove themselves in adult football. Clubs should pay attention to them. We have to support our youth. They have great potential," Shevchenko said.